Buffalo Bills News - June 11, 2004

Tucker Is OK. Koons Signs [6:23 PM]WGR-AM reports:
'Bills offensive lineman Ross Tucker has a lower leg bruise as X-rays were negative. Tucker was hurt Thursday when he got in the middle of a bunch of players that went down on a running play.'

Tucker Hopes to Return Next Week [6:20 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"I just got hit in the side of the leg," Tucker said. "I felt like I could get up but I wasn't able to right away. It's not serious. We got X-rays and they were negative and I'm very happy."'

Koons Signs Free Agent Deal With Buffalo [6:09 PM]UofLsports.com reports:
'Koons ended his career with 33 straight starts at center and was the anchor of the offensive line, while Day was third on the team with 94 tackles. "I'm looking forward to getting going," said Koons. "It's been a long road, but I'm glad to be in a camp. I'm just going to give it a good shot and see what happens."'

Sunday is Bills Day at the Buffalo Zoo [4:16 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'At the Zoo, the Bills will have an interactive area which will include: inflatable games, face painting, tattoos, and performances by the Buffalo Jills from 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM. Also scheduled to appear are Buffalo Bills Mascot Billy Buffalo and Bills players including, Ryan Denney, Chris Kelsay and Ryan Neufeld, who will be on-hand signing autographs from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM.'

Bills Sign Koons [4:15 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Koons (6-4, 286) enters his professional career after staring 33 consecutive games for Louisville. One of the most consistent contributors for the Cardinals during his career, Koons anchored the line for a Louisville offense that ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and first in yards per rush in 2003.'

Minicamp or regular season, Spikes requires no motivation [3:41 PM]AP reports:
'''I don't care, man, you know what I'm saying?'' Spikes said later, when asked about the hit. ''I'm going to do whatever it takes to win. If one guy's slacking, I'm going to do whatever it takes to pick him up.'''

Andre Reed among Hall of Fame honorees [1:54 PM]Tonawanda News reports:
'Meanwhile, Reed will become the sixth member from the Bills' teams that won four consecutive AFC championships over a decade ago to be inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Reed set team records for most games played (221), receptions (941), receiving yards (13,095) and touchdowns (87) during his illustrious 15-year career in Buffalo.'

Bills showing off new talent [1:46 PM]Niagara Gazette reports:
'“I don’t care if you are a rookie or a veteran,” he said. “The top 11 guys are going to be the ones that are going to be playing on special teams. It’s obviously a very important part of football."'

Bulletin Board [1:39 PM]Buffalo News reports:
'Buffalo Bills Community Day will be held Sunday at the Buffalo Zoo.'

April showers praise on special teams [9:00 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I think we've got a unique group of linebackers," April said. "I really think those guys are good - Josh Stamer, Dominique Stevenson, Angelo Crowell and Mario Hagan, who didn't play much last year. Those guys have high expectations and there's a lot of promise there. The tight ends are good, and I think the corners and safeties are good players. That's the core of your special teams."'

So far, so good for McGahee and his knee [8:59 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"Most people, when they have major knee surgery, they worry about if they cut wrong what's going to happen," McGahee said. "I don't worry about none of that. I just go out there and go. If it happens it happens. You can't stop it."'

Reed leads 11 to Buffalo 'Hall' [8:58 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I will always say until the day I'm done that Andre Reed did a lot of things, but he did it with the Kent Hulls and the (Will) Wolfords and the Biscuits (Cornelius Bennett) and the (Bruce) Smiths and (Thurman) Thomases and (Jim) Kellys and (Steve) Taskers. They're a part of me as much as I'm a part of them."'

Bills like Brown backing Bledsoe [5:19 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'”We’re pleased with the guys we have,” president and general manager Tom Donahoe said on Wednesday. “At this point, that’s how we’re going to go with it.”'

June 10, 2004

Vincent says NFL players' time stretched too thin [10:14 PM]AP reports:
'''Do you pout, are you angry at the world, do you get cut and go back and take it out on your mom or your dad, your spouse, your children?'' Vincent said, recalling his speech. ''These are things we need to develop. ... That's developing that man side.'''

Andre Reed chosen for Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame [10:12 PM]AP reports:
'Even though those Bills teams may be best remembered as losers of four Super Bowls rather than winners of four AFC championships, Reed said that he wouldn't trade his career for anything, including a victory in the most meaningful game of a professional football player's career. ''I was part of something special, and part of some great teams,'' he said. ''We were a family and that's not that evident in sports anymore.'''

Bills Conclude Third OTA [9:40 PM]RNews.com reports:
'Last year's first-round selection, runningback Willis McGahee has the phrase; "Guess Who's Back" tatooed on his neck. The Miami product said after practice the words are not directed at anyone, it was something he wanted to do. McGahee sat out all of last year with a knee injury he sustained in college.'

Transcript: Mike Mularkey Q&A Session [9:39 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'On Willis McGahee:
Physically I think he's doing very well. Some of the things we're doing offensively, they're getting something introduced everyday we're out here, I can see he and Travis (Henry) are grasping it but need to spend even more time if they can, to control some of the mental part of it. Physically they're both real good.'

Transcript: Drew Bledsoe Q&A Session [3:59 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'There's a couple of things we're going to do this year that are going to help alleviate the problems we had last year with protection: number one, you're going to see a stronger dedication and commitment to a running game, a power running attack, and two, right now we're installing a lot of things, and we're going to have some down the field passes, but I think you're going to see a lot of times this year where the ball is going to be out of my hands a lot quicker. We're going to have faster developing routes that will allow me to get back, get five steps and get rid of the ball so it won't put as much pressure on the protection.'

Bills' All-time Leading WR Inducted into Hall [3:58 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Andre Reed, arguably the best wide receiver in Bills' history, is the latest member of the Buffalo Bills to be inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He joins former teammates Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Kent Hull, and Steve Tasker as the fifth player to be inducted from the Bills' Super Bowl teams in the early 1990s.'

Program Helps to Develop Young Area Athletes [11:17 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'The Buffalo Bills Junior Player Development program is a four-week, 12-session football workshop that helps develop skills to local participants between the ages of 12 and 15. The program currently has 180 members and is free to all who join.'

Bills Release Five Players [5:44 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'The Bills today announced that the team has released the following five players who were signed after this year’s draft as rookie free agents...'.

June 9, 2004

QB Chandler among five released by Bills [10:00 PM]AP reports:
'The Bills, who open training camp on July 31, had to make room on their roster to welcome back five players that competed in NFL Europe this past season.'

Individual Game Tickets On Sale July 17 [10:00 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Tickets will be available in person at the Ralph Wilson Stadium ticket office, the Rochester office in Pittsford Plaza, and at all participating Tops Friendly Markets locations. For those buying tickets at Tops, a handbill policy will again be in effect. Fans can pickup handbills beginning Monday, June 12.'

Vikings sign former Falcon LB Newman [10:16 AM]AP reports:
Newman, 27, who will be playing for his third team in three seasons, has started 52 of the 64 games he has played. While the five-year veteran is more familiar with the strongside and weakside positions, he may be asked to learn the middle spot. Newman, who spent four years with Buffalo, will be reunited with former Bills starters Antoine Winfield and Ken Irvin. Newman's 16.5 career sacks ranks second among active Vikings.

Bills sign rookie receiver [5:36 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'Smith, the 214th player selected in April’s draft, also was a punt returner, running back and quarterback at Georgia Tech.'

Forget the kick; Norwood at ease with life [5:35 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'”A lot of people might think the response has been mostly negative since that Super Bowl. But nothing could be further from the truth. Buffalo fans have always been good to me. I couldn’t have played in a better place.”'

June 8, 2004

Bills Sign 7th-round Pick, WR Smith [6:05 PM]AP reports:
Smith, the 214th player selected in April's draft, also served as a punt returner, running back and quarterback at Georgia. In four seasons, he finished with 174 catches for 2,238 yards to rank fourth among Yellow Jacket receivers.